After considerable dilly dallying I got my flu shot a week and half ago while I was in Kansas City. The pharmacist at Target near my hotel administered the shot. He prefaced the experience by saying, “I don’t like needles.” Then in an agonizingly slow motion he administered the IM injection in my left deltoid.

Pro Tip: Go fast through the skin for less pain.

We discussed the importance of vaccinations on the EMSEduCast recently, Transition from Public Health to EMS Educator – Episode 125.

Also check out this post on Why You Should get a Flu Shot … don’t be a dumb ass.

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Look at this screen shot from Google.org Flu Trends for indicators of Flu activity in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the 2007-2008 flu season.

During the 2007-2008 Flu season when would the best time have been to schedule influenza related training?

Based on this trend line you might decide to offer influenza related training every January. But influenza might not arrive in your community until February or March. By then the training is forgotten or certainly diluted by other training.

Or it might arrive before you can deliver the training.

During the 2009-2010 Flu season when would the best time have been to schedule influenza related training?

Does your system have monitoring systems in place to schedule training for when it is needed?

On September 1, 2011, I am discussing online education trends at EMS World Expo. One of my key points is the importance of data to make training assignments.

How does your organization use bio-surveillance data to make training assignments?

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Do you ask patients about use of herbal supplements, alternative therapies, and other complementary medicine treatments?

Despite robust marketing campaigns, anecdotal boasts from friends, family, and celebrities, and years of research, at great expense, the efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments can be summed up in this recurring statement from a recent report of the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

“There is no conclusive scientific evidence that any CAM therapy prevents colds or substantially reduces their duration or severity in adults or children.”

“There is no conclusive scientific evidence that any CAM therapy is useful against the flu.”

Read the full NIH NCCAM report.

For EMS professionals the best treatment is prevention with hand and cough hygiene and maintaining good overall health and fitness. Stay well.

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You have your flu shot already. Right? What about your family, friends, neighbors, and vendors?

This week, January 10-16, 2010 is National Influenza Vaccination Week. According to the CDC “Each year during National Influenza Vaccination Week, the importance of influenza vaccination and the need for persons to receive vaccination throughout the entire October–May influenza season are highlighted. Influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its severe complications.”

While a lot of attention has been given to H1N1; influenza, the seasonal flu, impacts and kills many more people. Vaccination with basic prevention steps like:

• Handwashing
• Catching your cough/sneeze in your elbow
• Cleaning reusable equipment
• Wearing appropriate PPE

Are essential in minimizing the spread and impact of influenza.

Learn more about National Influenza Vaccination Week and visit the resources available at Flu.gov.

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You work hard to keep the residents of your community safe by providing emergency police, fire and rescue services. Be equally as diligent to minimize contagions in your Dispatch Center. Simple cleaning can prevent the spread of germs from one dispatcher to the next.

Use these Everyday EMS Tips for Preventing the spread of influenza in your dispatch center:


1. Wipe down your workstation. Use disinfecting wipes or spray on your entire work station including your: keyboard, mouse, mouse pad, phone and phone pad. Clean your station at the beginning and end of each shift.

2. Use your own pen. Imagine using your coworker’s pen that they have put in their mouth or used after touching their nose. Ick. Store your pens in your locker or somewhere that they are not used by others.

3. Clean your coffee mug and water bottle with soap and hot water every day.

4. Wash your hands often. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your work station.

5. Stay home when you are ill.

Do your part to prevent the spread of the flu in your workplace. For more information on flu prevention visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The results of millions of Google searches are used to map and estimate Flu activity around the world. This map compares data in United States (yellow) with the Google search trends (blue).

Use the interactive map on the Google Flu Trends website to examine flu related searches in your continent, country, or state.

And remember to do your part to stay healthy and prevent the spread of influenza.

1. Receive the annual flu vaccination.

2. Cover your cough and catch your sneeze.

3. Wash your hands frequently.

4. Keep surfaces and equipment in the ambulance clean.

5. Throwaway facial tissue after use.

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The Department of Health and Human Services offered a contest for the best flu prevention video public service announcement. This video was the winning video. Again the steps are simple:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Avoid touching your nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Catch your cough in your elbow.
4. Dispose of tissues after use.
5. Keep community surfaces and equipment clean.
6. Get vaccinated.
7. Teach others.

Find more information at http://flu.gov

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Visit the US Health and Human Services YouTube channel to vote for the best flu prevention public service announcement. Finalists are competing for a $2500 prize.

This is my favorite video. I think I was my hands more than the average person to begin with, but I needed to wash my hands – twice – after watching this video. Do me a favor and wash your hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after any patient contact, after sneezing, and just more often thanks. Which of the videos is your favorite and Why?

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Reducing transmission of influenza (and H1N1) is really pretty easy:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Catch your cough.

3. Stay away from family, co-workers, and friends when you are sick.

4. Throw away your tissues.

5. Wash your hands. (yes, it is worth saying again)

Need these instructions in a neat video format with a great sound track? Then check out this video from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

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Check out this fine summary of CDC tips for cleaning ambulances and other patient transport vehicles to prevent disease transmission from pathogens like H1N1.  The 2nd tip describes cleaning driver compartment because driver may wear gloves while driving.

The driver wearing their patient care gloves while driving is my top EMS pet peeve. Don’t do it! Instead follow these Everyday EMS Tips to keep the driver area clean.

1. Remove your gloves in the patient care compartment.

2. Wash your hands with a waterless hand gel in the patient care compartment.

3. Once in the driver seat, if waterless hand gel was not available in the patient care compartment, use it before touching the wheel or radio. I like to wipe excess gel on the steering wheel and shift lever.

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